Machine for correcting the maladjustment of the atlas and axis.



A. D. NICHOLS.

MACHINE .FoH coHHEcTlHG THE H ALADAUSTAAEHT or THE ATLAS AND Axls.

. APPLICATION'FILED JUNE 19, 1916- m2339496 Patented .1u-1y 17, 1917. y3 SHEETS-SIHEET l.

A. D. NICHGLS.

MACHINE `FOR CORRECTING THE MALAWUSTMENT 0F HE ATLAS AND AXIS.

' APPLICATION man luNE 19. 191s.

l 1,233,496, Patented July 17, x91?.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. D. NICHOLS.

MACHINE FOR CURRECTING THE MALADJUSTMENT 0F THE ATLAS AND AXIS.

APPLICATION FILED .IIJNE I9. 1916. 1,933,49@ I m1611161 Ju1y17,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- 'iinirnn srariss ria/aimer ori-ripa j .ADRIAN D.NICHOLS, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO OSCAR W.HOOPPAW, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

MACHINE FOR CORRECTING THE MALADJU'STMENT 0F THE ATLAS ANI) AXIS.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1917.

Application ined June 19, 191e. serial No. 104,389.

To all fw kom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ADRIAN D. NICHOLS, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, haveinvented a new. and useful Machine for Correcting the Maladjustment ofthe Atlas and Axis, therst two spinal vertebrae of the neck, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of the invention lis to increase the supply of blood to thebrain and spinal cord through the vertebral artery, which is diminishedin case the atlas and axis are not in correct alinement. Incorrectalinement, or maleadjustment, of the atlas and axis also affects thecirculation through the internal carotid artery.

rlhis invention relates particularly toa mechanical device forcorrecting the maladjustment of the atlas and axis, and for securelyholding these two vertebrae (atlas and axis) by permitting a noddingmotion of the head of the patient, so as to correctly adjust the atlasand axis to their normal ren lation with the skull and spine.

Further details ofthis invention appear below in connection with thedescription of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings forcarrying out the theory, and what the invention consists in is moreVparticularly defined'in the appended claims.

In the drawings, where the same reference characters are used todesignate like parts in the several views,

Figure 1 is a front view of a suitable device or apparatus forperforming the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, the headstrap being removed in Fig. 3;

Fig. a is a side view, and Fig. 5 is an end view of an adjustablebracket and finger,`

forming part of the device; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of a portion of the adjusting mechanism foreach pair of brackets.

The apparatus is mounted on a portable frame 10 which may be placedagainst the end of a suitable support or table, and secured thereto byhooks or clamps. The portable frame 10 has a shelf 11 extending acrossits front, upon which is mounted suitable apparatus for securely holdingthe bones of the neck and head. This apparatus comprises a verticalslide 12, which is adjustable up and down by means of a vertical screwoperated by a hand wheel 13. Upon the vertical slide 12 is slidablyarranged a cross slide 14k, which is adjustable toward and away from thetable by means of a horizontal screw, operated by a crank han-` dle 15.

The cross slide 14 supports two sets of clamping fingers for engagingthe vertebrae of the neck. The forward set 16 of clamping fingers isadapted to engage over or around or any other way necessary to holdiirmly the lateral processes of the atlas (which is the rst vertebra ofthe spinal column) upon which the skull pivots and is supported. Asecond set 17 of fingers engage over or around or any other waynecessary to hold firmly the lateral processes of the axis, which is thesecond vertebra of the spinal column.

Differently shaped fingers may be used to conform with the shape andarrangement of the vertebrae of the patient, and the ends of the lingersmay be covered with pads or rubber, or other suitable material.

The head rest 18 is pivotally mounted on arms 19. The head rest has anadjustable pad 20, upon which the back of the head of the patient rests,also an adjustable clamp` ing plate 2l for engaging the top of the headto position it centrally in the frame. An adjust-able strap 22 with itsends cngaging slots in the sides of the frame, is

adapted to be drawn tightly over the top of the head orV forehead. Thesethree cla1np ing means hold the head securely in place in the frame. Thepad 2() and plate 21 are mounted by means of ball and socket, or doubleuniversal joints, upon the ends of the adjusting screws 23, so as to befree to accommodate themselves to the shape of the head.

The supporting pad 20 and strap 22 are adjustable horizontally towardand away from the fingers 16. The supporting screw for the pad 20 ismounted in a sleeve 24, which can be moved along a slot in the dependingarm 25 of the frame, in which it is mounted, and can be clamped in anydesired position of adjustment by means of the knurled nut 26. The headrest is supported in its normal horizontal position by means of apivoted arm 27 which engages under the extremity of the arm 25. rIhepivoted arm 27 can be swung out of the way when it is desired` tooscillate the head-rest. The head rest has a handle 2S for oscillatingit up and down.

The forward set of fingers' 16 which engage the atlas are removably heldin adjustable blocks 29, which are slidably mounted in a pair ofbrackets 30, which, in turn, are slidable toward and away from eachother in guides in the cross slide 14. The blocks 2f) which hold thefingers, are individually adjustable by means of adjusting screws 31,which are attached to them and threaded in the upper ends of thebrackets 30.

The brackets are adjustable simultaneously by means of a right and leftscrew 32 horizontally held in the cross slide 14. The oppositelythreaded ends of the screw 32 engage in threaded holes through the lowerends of the brackets 30. The second set of fingers 17 are held by blocks33, which are adjustably mounted in the slide boxes 34 for horizontaladjustment toward and away from each other and for adjustment toward andaway from the fingers 16.

The slide boxes 34 are mounted on the brackets 35 and are adjustableforward or backward by means of knnrled screws 36. The brackets 35 areadjustable simultaneously toward and from each other by means of a rightand left hand screw 37, which engages in threaded holes in their lowerends. The right and left screws and 37 maj7 be turned separately orsimultaneously by means of the foot pedals 39 and 40 in order to leavethe hands free for manipulating the clamping fingers and adjusting otherportions of the apparatus.

Each of the right and left screws 32 and 37 has a spool 41 rotarilymounted upon its end next the knnrled disk 88. rIhe adjacent face of thespool is ypro-vided with ratchet teeth and adapted to be engaged by aspringpressed detent 42. The spring-pressed detent 42 can be turned toengage the ratchet face of the spool 41 to slide over the teeth ineither direction, or it can be held out of engagement with the teeth.

Each spool 41 has a cord 43 wound upon it, the lower ends of the cords43 being connected to the pedals 39 and 4f), respectively, so that byoscillating the foot pedals up and down, the spools 41 can be caused tooscillate around the right and left hand screw shafts 32 and 37respectively. The small spiral springs 44 are arranged in annularrecesses in the spools 41, one end of each spring being connected to thespool and the other end being connected to a fixed part ofl the crossslide 14. These spiral springs are under sufficient tension to keep thecords .43 taut and canse the spools to oscillate with the foot pedal.Byoscillating the foot pedal 39 and setting the detent 42 in the properposition, the screw shaft can be rotated in either direction desired toadjust the brackets 30 toward or away from each other; and the shaft 37can be rotated in like manner by means of the foot pedal 40 to adjustthe brackets 85.

In operating this invention or device, the patient reclines on asuitable support or table, with his shoulders resting squarely upon itsend, adjacent to the portable frame 10, and his head resting on the pad20 of the head rest. The pad 20, plate 211 and strap 22 of the sliderests are adjusted to hold the patients head securely in position forthe mechanical fingers to grasp or firmly hold the transverse processesof the patients atlas and axis.

. The front set 16 of fingers which holds the atlas, and the rear set 17which holds the axis, are adjusted toward each other simultaneously bymeans of the foot pedal, the operator using his fingers to guide theminto proper position and making \\f'haterer slight individualadjustments of the fingers may be required to suit the vertebra of thepatient. The sets of fingers may be operated by hand by turning theknurled disks.

After adjusting the fingers to clamp the vertebrae securely, theoperator turns the pivot arm 27 out of the way and slowly oscillates thehead rest 1S up and down h v means of the handle 2S. The motion o l thehead is maintained for sufficient length of time, depending upon thepeculiarity ot each individual case, and occasionally the fingers 16 and17 are adjusted by the operator to bring the vertebrae gradually intoproper alinement.

In some cases the motion of the head is unnecessary, it being sufficientto hohl the head and body while the fingers 16 and 17 are movedvertically and horizontally to adjust the atlas and axis.

The invention is not restricted to the Aform of apparatus shown anddescribed.

I claim the following as my invention 1. A device of the characterdescribed having a set of clamps or fingers for simultaneously engagingthe right and left transverse processes of the atlas, and a. head restpivoted to oscillate on an axis through said clamps for the atlas.

2. A device of the character described having a set of clamps or fingersfor enga ging the right and left transverse processes of the axis, asecond set of clamps, said second set of clamps being arranged alongsideof the first set for engaging the right and left processes of the atlas.

3. A device of the character described having a set of clamps forengaging opposite sides of a vertebra, a second set of clamps, orfingers, arranged alongside of the first set,

and a head rest pivoted to oscillate transversely to the plane of saidfirst set of clamps or fingers, the clamps in each set beingindependently adjustable with respect to each other.

l. A device of the character described having a set of clamps, orfingers, for engaging opposite sides of a vertebra, a second set ofclamps, or fingers, arranged alongside of the firstset, and a head restpivoted to oscillate transversely to the plane of said clamps, theclamps in each set being independently adjustable in respect to eachother, and the clamps'of one set being adjustable toward and avvay fromthose of the other set.

5. A device of the character described having a set of clamps or fingersfor engaging opposite sides of. a transverse process of a vertebraof theneck, a second set of clamps arranged alongside of the first set toengage the right and left process of an adjacent vertebra of the neck,said clamps or fingers being independently adjustable toward and fromeach other, means for adjusting said clamps toward or from each other,and a head rest pivoted to oscillate vertically on an aXis transverse tosaid vertebra and located adjacent thereto.

6. A device of the character described having a set of clamps or fingersfor engagingopposite sides ofthe first vertebra of the neck, a secondset of clamps arranged alongside of. the first to engage the secondvertebra of the neck, said clamps, or lingers, being independentlyadjustable toward and from each other, means for adjusting said clampstoward or from each other, and a head rest pivoted to oscillate aboutsaid first clamps or ngers, and foot operated means for adjusting theclamps orV fingers of each set tovvard each other independently orsimultaneously.

7. A device of the character described having a set of clamps or fingers for engaging the right and left side of the first vertebra of theneck, a second set of clamps arranged alongside of' the first to engagethe right and left side of the second vertebra of the neck, said clampsor fingers being independent-,ly adjustable toward and from each other,means for adjusting said clamps toward or from each other, and footoperated means for adj usting` the clamps or fingers of each set towardeach other independently or simultaneously, in combination With a tablefor supporting the shoulders of a patient, and a head rest adjustablevertically and horizontally with respect to said table.

8. A device of the character described having a set of. clamps orfingers for engaging opposite sides of the first vertebra of the neck, asecond set `of clamps arranged alongside of the first for engagingopposite sides of the second vertebra of the neck, said clamps orfingers being independently adjustable toward and from each other, andmeans for adjusting the clamps or fingers of each set toward each otherindependentlyor simultaneously, in combination with a table forsupporting the shoulders of a patient, a head rest adjustable verticallyand horizontally with respect to said table and having clamps for thehead vertically and horizon- .tally adjustable with respect to theclamps or fingers for the vertebrae of' the neck, said head rest beingmounted for pivotal movement in a vertical plane around a horizontalaxis adjoining said clamping fingers.

9. A device of the character described having clamps or fingers arrangedin sets for engaging opposite sides of a transverse precess of avertebra of the neck, said clamps or fingers being independentlyadjustable to- Ward and from each other, hand operated means foradjusting said clamps toward or from each other, and foot operated meansfor adjusting the clamps or fingers of each set tovvard each otherindependently or simultaneously, in combination with table forsupporting the shoulders of a patient, a head rest adjustable verticallyand horizontally with respect to said table, and with respect to theclamps or fingers, said head rest being mounted for a pivotal movementin a vertical plane around a horizontal axis alongside of said clampingfingers, said' head rest having a clamping means for securely holdingthe patients head.

l0. A device of the character described having a set of clamps orfingers for engaging the right and left side of' a vertebra of the neck,said clamps or fingers being independently adjustable tovvard and fromeach other, foot operated meansadjusting said clamps simultaneouslytoward or from each other, and a head rest pivoted to oscillate aboutsaid clamps or fingers, in combination with a table for supporting theshoulders of a patient in suitable position with respect to the clampsor fingers, said head rest having hand operated clamping means forsecurely holding the patients head, whereby one operator can adjust saidclamping means independently and simultaneously.

ll. A device of the character described having a set of clamps forengaging opposite sides of a vertebra, a second set of clamps arrangedalongside of the first set, and a head rest pivoted to oscillatetransversely to the plane of said clamps, and foot operated means foradjusting clamps of each set -tovvard each other independently andsimultaneously.

12. ln combination With va table for supporting the shoulders of' apatient, a head rest adjustable vertically and horizontally With respectto said table, and clamping means for a vertebra of the neck adjustableWith respect to said head rest.

18. ln combination With a table for supporting the shoulders of apatient, a head rest adjustable with respect to said table, and clampingmeans for a vertebra of the neck adjustable With respect to said headrest, said head rest being mounted. for pivotal movement in a verticalplane around a horizontal axis through said vertebra clamping means. c

14. In combination With a table for sup porting the shoulders of apatient, a head rest adjustable With respect to said table, said headrest having clamping means for securely holding the patients head, andclamping means for a vertebra oi' the neck adjustable with respect tosaid head rest, said head rest being mounted for oscillation about saidvertebra clamping means.

15. In combination with a table for supporting the shoulders of apatient, a head rest adjustable with respect to said table, said headrest having clamping means for securely holding the patients head, andclamping means for a vertebra of the neck adjustable yWith respect tosaid head rest, said head rest being mounted for oscillation about saidvertebra clamping means, and means whereby one operator can adjust allor' said clamping means independently and simultaneously to the patient.

16. In combination with a table for supporting the shoulders of apatient, a head rest adjustable vertically and horizontally `withrespect to said table, and clamping means fora vertebra of the neckadjustable with respect to said head rest, said table, head rest andclamping means being connected for relative movement whereby the neck ofthe patient is alternately stretched and straightened.

17. A device of the character described havin-g two .sets of holders forfingers, suitable lingers mounted in said holders for clamping thevertebrae of' the neck, a frame Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor for supporting the head, said frame and holders being relativelymovable.

1S. In combination with means for supporting the shoulders of a patient,ahead rest adjustable vertically and horizontally with respect thereto,and coperating clamping means for engaging opposite sides of thevertebrae of the neck, said clamping means being adjustable with respectto said head rest.

19. In combination with means for supporting the shoulders of a patient,a head rest adjustable with respect thereto, and cooperating oppositelydisposed clamping means for a vertebra of the neck adjustable withrespect to said head rest, said head rest being mounted for pivotalmovement around a point adjacent to the axis of said vertebra clampingmeans.

20. In combination with means for supporting the shoulders of a patient,a head rest adjustable With respect thereto, said head rest havingclamping means for securely holding the patientshead, and clamping meansfor securely holding a vertebra of the neck adjustable With respect tosaid head rest, said head rest being mounted for oscillation about saidvertebra clamping means.

21. In combination With a table for supporting the shoulders of apatient, a head rest adjustable with respect to said table, said headrest having clamping means for securely holding the patients head,adjustable clamping moans for securely holding a vertebra of the neck,said vertebra clamping means being adjustable With respect to said headrest and table, and means whereby one operator can adjust said clampingmeans independently and simultaneously.

Signed at St. Louis, Missouri, this 17th day of June, 1916.

ADRIAN D. NICHOLS.

ve cents each, by addressing che Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D.C.

